CHESTERFIELD, UK: The pandemic has been ongoing for over a year now, and there is still a strong need to protect healthcare and scientific staff from SARS-CoV-2 infection. To stay safe, many professionals have been adhering to strict infection protection and control guidelines and using various protective gear. However, some safety equipment, which is often cumbersome, has sometimes led to facial bruising or skin damage and caused considerable discomfort or even pain. To offer dental professionals increased protection and comfort, UK dental industry supplier Denka is now distributing a new solution for respiratory protection: the CleanSpace HALO respirator.
According to Denka, CleanSpace HALO, which is now available in the UK, provides the same protection as conventional respiratory equipment, but is more lightweight and easier to use. Additionally, the respirator has a transparent mask that allows clear voice transmission, which facilitates communication among staff and patients, and does not use any cables or belt-mounted battery packs, which is the case with some protective devices.
The company says that the device is well suited for those working long shifts and can be easily cleaned and disinfected after use. The respirator uses patented AirSensit technology, which delivers cool, filtered air—up to 230 l/min airflow for up to 9 hours of operating time—on demand.
Like many other organisations, Denka believes that, despite thorough vaccination programmes being underway, front-line healthcare workers will continue to use personal protective equipment (PPE) beyond 2021. Since healthcare organisations have been putting pressure on government departments to offer higher standards for efficacy and use of PPE, Denka reported that the demand for CleanSpace HALO has increased dramatically and that the company has doubled its sales in the last month alone.
“We’ve seen a huge surge in enquiries from dental and healthcare professionals, who see CleanSpace HALO as an ideal solution to the back problems and facial discomfort caused by conventional hooded respirators. It also improves greatly the communication and relationship with patients,” said Andrew Cuckson, who is a managing director and owner of Denka UK, in a press release.
CleanSpace HALO has already been widely used by some dental professionals and has received positive feedback: “The ingenious design spreads the weight, so that you barely notice you are wearing it,” explained Harley Street prosthodontist Dr Stuart Jacobs. “Its compactness also allows me to wear my loupes and visor over the top, so that my vision is as good as if I wasn’t wearing the mask at all, and the soft silicone transparent mask with voice transmission means that communication with patients is clear and effective during procedures.”
Editorial note: More information about CleanSpace HALO can be found here.
